BESSEMER CITY – Facing a Lake Norman Charter team that hasn’t lost since mid-December, Bessemer City High’s boys basketball team knew it was in for a challenge in Friday’s battle for Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference supremacy.

And that was assuming the Yellow Jackets would have their full complement of players who have led them to a holiday tournament title and a tie for first place in the league standings.

So when Bessemer City had to suspend one of its starters – a senior captain no less – for the game for disciplinary reasons, whatever home court advantage the Yellow Jackets may have had seemed to disappear.

Lake Norman Charter was eager to take advantage, pressing Bessemer City into mistakes early in the contest, and by staying consistent throughout in a thorough 79-44 whipping of the Yellow Jackets.

The victory gives the Knights (10-4, 5-1) a seventh straight victory and sole possession of first place in the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference with two games left in the first half of the league schedule.

“We had a week of practice to get ready,” said Lake Norman Charter coach Aaron Reeves, who has been involved with the Knights’ program for each of its five seasons, including the last two as head coach. “We knew this was a big game in the conference. And this was our best start and best finish we’ve had all year.”

Since Lake Norman Charter has played 4A schools Hopewell and Hough and beaten Big South 3A Conference leader Ashbrook in its non-league schedule, that says a lot about the Knights’ effort on Friday.

“They played well,” said Bessemer City coach Danny McDowell, whose team fell to 11-3, 4-2. “Not taking anything away from them, but we really missed our leader out there.”

That leader was senior point guard Tyrece Meeks, who was out of action due to disciplinary action.

“He’s our emotional leader and a senior captain,” McDowell said of Meeks. “Without him, we looked like the ‘Bad News Bears.’

“When you take your general out, it’s like driving a car with three wheels.”

Lake Norman Charter opened with a full court press that bothered the Yellow Jackets from the outset, as they committed five turnovers in the first four minutes as the Knights roared to an 8-2 lead.

They never looked back, tallying 19 or more points in each quarter and getting scoring production from eight players.

Page 2 of 2 - “We’re still in there,” said McDowell, whose team plays at West Lincoln on Tuesday. “It’s one game and we’ll get better. But we looked lost out there without him (Tyrece Meeks). Tonight showed why he’s the most important player on our team.”

Lake Norman Charter rolled to leads of 21-9 and 44-17 after the first two quarters before shutting out the Lady Yellow Jackets (7-7, 3-3) in the third quarter while taking a 62-17 lead into the final period.